Coastal Metaphors: Emotion, Space and Color in Landscape Painting
by
Jennifer Chase

   The Bristol Center for Arts & Culture is pleased to present its latest exhibition, Coastal Metaphors: Emotion, Space and Color in Landscape Painting, by Plainville artist Jennifer Chase.  The exhibition features a series of paintings that depict saltwater marshes and estuaries.  Through the use of dramatic color and expansive space, Jennifer symbolically translates her concern for nature and desire for stability in the environment.  She has traveled throughout New England to reference coastal waterways and her paintings capture the innate balance of water, land, and sky.  Come meet the artist at an opening preview reception at the Carousel Museum building on Friday, May 2, from 5:30 to 7:30.  The exhibit will be on display and paintings will be for sale in the Museum’s fine art galleries thru May 31, 2008. 
   Jennifer grew up in Plainville, Connecticut, where she now resides with her husband Mark.  She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education from the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth, Massachusetts.  After graduation, she returned to Connecticut as an art teacher at Northeast Middle School in Bristol.  She continues teaching art in her current position at Bristol Eastern High School.  This exhibition is the culmination of her capstone research project and upon completion she will receive her Master of Science degree in Art Education from Central Connecticut State University.
   The Bristol Center for Arts & Culture is located in the New England Carousel Museum building, at 95 Riverside Avenue, RT 72 W, in Bristol, CT 06010. Summer Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sun Noon-5:00 PM.  Admission: $5.00 adults, $4.50 seniors, $2.50 children 4-14. Members and children under age 4 are free. The building is available to rent for receptions, weddings, meetings and classes. The Museum provides tours, tour and craft programs, birthday parties for children of all ages, youth group sleepovers and educational outreach programs. For information, call 860-585-5411.

The Memory of Trees
by
Chris DuFour

   The Bristol Center for Arts & Culture is pleased to present its latest exhibition, The Memory of Trees by artist Chris DuFour.  The Memory of Trees is a tribute to the scenic beauty of New England.  Come meet the artist at an opening preview reception at the Carousel Museum building on Friday, January 18, from 5:30 to 7:30.  The exhibit will be on display and paintings will be for sale in the Museum’s fine art galleries thru March 10, 2008. 
   Chris DuFour began painting in the fall of 2005, simply as a hobby to keep him occupied during the winter months.  Although Chris had always been an admirer of the arts, he never pursued a formal art education.  He traveled extensively with the military and spent many years living in the Southwest, and he continually found himself drawn to various museums and galleries.  Chris never truly envisioned himself on the creative end of the spectrum, but he saw a raw talent take shape in his early paintings.  At the urging of those who had seen his work, he began to pursue painting in a more serious manner.
   The Bristol Center for Arts & Culture is located in the New England Carousel Museum building, at 95 Riverside Avenue, RT 72 W, in Bristol, CT 06010. Winter Hours: Thurs-Sat. 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sun Noon-5:00 PM.  Admission: $5.00 adults, $4.50 seniors, $2.50 children 4-14. Members and children under age 4 are free. The building is available to rent for receptions, weddings, meetings and classes. The Museum provides tours, tour and craft programs, birthday parties for children of all ages, youth group sleepovers and educational outreach programs. For information, call 860-585-5411.

The Other Side
featuring:
Lynn Allen "Ivy" - Photographer
Matt Simpson -
Sculptor
Randall Mortzfield - Photographer

Opening Reception:
Friday the 13th of July,
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Exhibition Dates:
July 13, 2007 - September 9, 2007
Hours:
Monday - Saturday  10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday  Noon - 5:00 p.m.

     The Bristol Center for Arts and Culture is located at The New England Carousel Museum, 95 Riverside Avenue, RT 72 W, in Bristol, CT 06010

“Circus Art by John Belfontaine”

The Bristol Center for Arts & Culture is pleased to present its newest exhibition, “Circus Art by John Belfontaine.”  Belfontaine’s experience with the Big Apple Circus inspired him to create paintings both under the big top and behind the scenes, all of which he captures brilliantly in oil, acrylic, watercolor, conte chalk, pastels and clay.  Mr. Belfontaine will share his work and experience with the circus during an opening reception held at the New England Carousel Museum building, from 5:30-7:30 on Feb 2, 2007.  The artist will be present, and will remarque limited edition prints at the reception.  Mr. Belfontaine’s work will be on display and will be available for purchase during Museum hours through April 7, 2007.
Mr. Belfontaine has pursued his love for art since he was a young boy.  While living in New Hampshire, he started a group known at the New Hampshire Artist’s Guild Gallery, enlisting 130 artists statewide.  He also dabbled in illustration, but eventually grew tired of free lance work.  He continued to show his art in various galleries before he was truly inspired by a trip to the Big Apple Circus more than 25 years go. The color, drama, and theatrical acts inspired him like nothing had before.  In 2003, he joined the Big Apple Circus for the summer, capturing the enchantment and wonderment both inside and outside the ring.  Mr. Belfontaine recently completed 30 new paintings, all of which will be on display at the Bristol Center for Arts & Culture.
The Bristol Center for Arts & Culture is located in the New England Carousel Museum building, at 95 Riverside Avenue, RT 72 W, in Bristol, CT 06010. Winter Hours: Thurs-Sat 10:00 AM-5:00 PM and Sun Noon-5:00 PM.  Admission: $5.00 adults, $4.50 seniors, $2.50 children 4-14. Members and children under age 4 are free. The building is available to rent for receptions, weddings, meetings and classes. The Museum provides tours, tour and craft programs, birthday parties for children of all ages, youth group sleepovers and educational outreach programs. For information, call 860-585-5411

The Art of Decorative Painting and Faux Finishes
The Bristol Center for Arts & Culture is pleased to present “The Art of Decorative Painting and Faux Finishes” by Polish born artist Waldemar Karwowski.  Karwowski has been specializing in decorative painting and historical restoration since 1980.  Originally from Europe, Waldemar immigrated to the United States from Poland in 1987.  He attended the Lyme Academy of Fine Art, where he was a part time student for five years and spent one year studying decorative painting at the “ipedec” institute in Paris, France.
The show displays a sampling of Karwowski’s creative decorative painting techniques in drawing, gold leaf and faux finishes that represent marble, wood or Venetian plaster textures. Also featured are historically influenced subjects on oil on canvas that demonstrate the artist’s extraordinary craftsmanship.
Waldemar was chosen to exhibit his work because of his amazing talent and creativity.  Waldemar has elevated decorative painting to a new height.  To the eye, his panels appear to be textures of Yellow Sienna and Gray Breccia or the smoothly sanded feel of Pitch Pine, Mahogany and Palisander woods , yet are painted canvases to the touch.  This show is a "must see" especially for architects and interior designers.
Waldemar became interested in art at an early age after watching his father use decorative painting techniques in houses and churches.  By age twelve, Waldemar took the basic painting techniques he learned from his father and applied them to his own works of art.  Since then, Waldemar has done restoration work at the sanctuary Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, and the entire interior of Saint Stanislaus’ church in New Haven, CT.  Of his craft, Waldemar states, “Through decorative painting and faux finish, I am able to create pieces that are multi-layered and tangible.  It is important to me to create what I feel and to use my best ability to complete my work with the knowledge that I have obtained over my years of study and observation”.
“The Art of Decorative Painting and Faux Finishes” will be on display at the Bristol Center for Arts & Culture from Friday, September 29 until Sunday, December 31, 2006.  An opening reception will be held at the Museum on Friday, September 29 from 5:30 to 7:30.  The artist will be present at the reception.
The Bristol Center for Arts & Culture is located inside the Carousel Museum building, 95 Riverside Avenue, RT 72 W, in Bristol, CT 06010. Hours: April thru November: Monday-Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM and Sunday noon - 5:00 PM; December thru March: Thursday-Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM and Sunday noon - 5:00 PM. Admission: $5.00 adults, $4.50 seniors, $2.50 children 4-14. Members and children under age 4 are free. The Museum also features the Museum of Fire History, two fine art galleries, Restoration Department, Gift Shop, and administration for the Bushnell Park Carousel.  The building is available to rent for receptions, weddings, meetings and classes. The Museum provides tours, tour and craft programs, birthday parties for children of all ages, youth group sleepovers and educational outreach programs. For information, call 860-585-5411
 

The Works of Rick Fitzsimons
     The Bristol Center for Arts & Culture is pleased to present its latest exhibition, featuring the works of Bristol artist Rick Fitzsimons. Rick has created beautiful works that reflect a mastery of form and an intricate involvement with light.  His paintings embrace a range of subjects, most prominently that which inspires him at the moment.  He is at his best with subjects from every day life, landscapes or figures in quiet repose, reflection or thoughtful isolation.
     Rick Fitzsimons was born in Bristol, CT, where he now lives with his wife Bonnie.  Rick’s interest in art emerged as a young child. Although interested in the different aspects of art, he never thought he would make it his livelihood.  With a degree in Business Management, Rick and his father opened an Awards and Sign shop.  This service soon began to include painting various landscape pictorials on the signs.  As a result, his love for painting was rekindled.  He began painting canvas after canvas of landscape and portrait works, and soon after began publishing a few of his originals as limited edition prints.  Rick now earns a living by doing that which he never considered to be work.
     The exhibition will run from Friday, July 21 through Sunday, September 24, 2006.  An opening reception for members of the New England Carousel Museum and friends of the artist will be held on Friday, July 21 from 5:30 to 7:30.  The artist will be present.
     The Bristol Center for Arts & Culture is located in the New England Carousel Museum building, at 95 Riverside Avenue, RT 72 W, in Bristol, CT 06010. Summer Hours: Mon-Fri 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sun Noon-5:00 PM.  Admission: $5.00 adults, $4.50 seniors, $2.50 children 4-14. Members and children under age 4 are free. The building is available to rent for receptions, weddings, meetings and classes. The Museum provides tours, tour and craft programs, birthday parties for children of all ages, youth group sleepovers and educational outreach programs.

The
New England Carousel Museum
95 Riverside Avenue, Rt. 72
Bristol, Connecticut 06010

Phone - (860) 585-5411     Fax - (860) 314-0483
Email - info@thecarouselmuseum.org